Titans to blood rookie winger against Knights

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Gold Coast Titans will hand an NRL debut to 19-year-old flyer Tyronne Roberts-Davis with William Zillman taking no part in Friday's captain's run prior to their clash with the Knights in Newcastle on Saturday.

Zillman failed to train on Wednesday with a calf complaint and was not sighted when the team took to the field on Friday morning, Roberts-Davis slotting in on the left wing in what would appear to be a straight swap.

As media were ushered out of the session Chris McQueen also spent some time running at left centre but given Roberts-Davis's enterprising performances in the trials it would appear unlikely that Dan Sarginson would be shuffled out to the wing and Joe Greenwood move into the starting team in the back row.

There was better news for co-captain Kevin Proctor who is confident of taking his place in the team after failing to return for the second half against the Roosters in Round 1 with a shoulder complaint.

Now in his third season in the NYC, Roberts-Davis has scored 12 tries and kicked 49 goals in 22 under-20s games for the Titans and has an undeniable knack of being able to find his way to the try-line.

In the trial against Parramatta in Alice Springs Roberts-Davis sparked a 105-metre try that began in the Titans' in-goal and at the Downer NRL Auckland Nines scored a try in the tournament's first game against the Sharks.

A big body who will also help to start the Titans' sets on the right note, coach Neil Henry has every confidence that the Kempsey junior can handle the step up in class.

"He's a good kid and has trained a little bit with the first grade side. Played with the top squad in the trials so he's certainly an up and coming player," Henry said.

"He was fine [in the trials] and didn't look out of place. He deserves his opportunity if he comes in. We're confident he'll get out there and do the job.

"'Zilly' (Zillman) is getting some treatment now and we're going to see if he is able to run.

"The medical team were quite confident that he could play if he was able to run today but if he can't run today then he won't be going down."

There were initial concerns that Proctor may have suffered tendon damage around his shoulder when he was unable to return to the field last weekend but the Kiwi international is not only confident of playing Newcastle but of getting out 80 minutes on the right edge.

"I had a little bit of a niggle with the shoulder after the game but it's feeling really good at the moment," Proctor said.

"I had an injection the other day and it's really loosened it up and I'll test it out today (Friday).

"You don't really want to come off the field with any injury but first game for the Titans, it was disappointing and we didn't really play too well in that first half either. Looking to make some redemption this weekend.

"Considering all the defence we did and I hadn't played any trials and was injured for most of the pre-season I felt pretty good actually.

"I'll be looking to play 80 and go as long as I can and see how we go."